Over 2.85L Rural Women in Prayagraj Achieve Self-Reliance Through Government Initiatives

By: WE staff | Monday, 2 June 2025

• More than 2.85 lakh rural women in Prayagraj are now self-sufficient as a result of numerous central and state government initiatives
• Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) are spearheading the change

More than 2.85 lakh rural women in Prayagraj have achieved self-reliance in a stunning transformation fueled by federal and state government initiatives. Self-help groups (SHGs) run by the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) throughout the district have enabled this empowerment, according to District Mission Manager Sharad Kumar Singh.

From just 1,409 SHGs at the start of the movement in 2017, there are now 25,421 groups spread across 23 blocks. At least ten women must come together to form a SHG, and then a group account is made. The government contributes Rs 15,000 as a revolving fund within three months of the organization's creation. After six months, more money is given under the Community Investment Fund after this sum has been used and paid back.

In rural Prayagraj, women are also stepping outside of their traditional roles. For instance, the Nari Shakti Prerna Sankul initiative, which packages Ganga water for distribution worldwide, is led by Namita Singh, Block Mission Manager of Jasra, which is situated 20 km from the district headquarters. Their team has already shipped 1,000 bottles to Germany and 50,000 bottles to Pune, she says, thanks to online platforms that helped them get past marketing obstacles.

Another example of success is commercial agriculture. With the help of other women in her community, Sarpaar village's Sarita Devi has made banana farming a profitable endeavor. She claims that since fruit agents come to their fields to buy the produce, growing bananas removes problems with credit and marketing. These encouraging instances demonstrate how government-supported SHGs are enabling rural women to pursue new economic opportunities and establishing sustainable livelihoods.